Blower housing



Dec. 27, 1960 T. F. SPERLING BLOWER HOUSING Filed July 5, 1957 INVENTOR. JZ /EaDoQE SPERL/NG,

United States Patent Office 2,966,297 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 BLOWER HOUSING Theodore F. Sperling, Temple City, Calif., assignor to Essick Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 5, 1957, Ser. No. 670,203

3 Claims. (Cl. 230-128) This invention relates to a blower housing and is more particularly concerned with that class of blower housing wherein air is drawn in through axially disposed openings and is blown outwardly by a rotor against the walls of the housing whence it is directed through a radially disposed outlet opening.

Blower housings of the axial inlet type are usually provided with an axial inlet opening or a radial outlet opening large enough to permit the insertion and removal of the rotor into and out of engagement in the housing. Since such openings are too large to function properly as inlet or outlet openings, it is customary to place a suitable reducing member in the opening which is provided with an opening of proper size, or cooperates with the housing to establish an opening of proper size. Such reducing members are secured to the housing by bolts or other suitable fastening devices.

It frequently happens that blowers of the class or type herein concerned with are engaged in cooler constructions, or the like, wherein access to the axial inlet openings and/or access to the front radially disposed outlet opening for the purpose of removing the rotor as for cleaning, or the like, is extremely difiicult and costly of time or is impossible and necessitates substantial or complete disassembly of the entire construction in which the blower is engaged.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel blower housing construction of the class referred to above having a radially disposed access opening in its rear side remote from the outlet opening and through which the rotor can be easily and conveniently engaged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for said access opening and novel mounting means for releasably securing the cover in engagement in said opening.

A fiurther object of this invention is to provide a construction of the general character referred to which is easy and economical of manufacture and which is both highly effective and dependable in operation.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a blower housing having a pair of axially spaced end plates with axial inlet openings therein and opposed peripheral flanges, a sectional scroll sheet fixed to and extending between the flanges on the end plates to establish the peripheral wall of the housing and defining a forwardly disposed radial outlet opening and a rearwardly disposed radial access opening, a closure panel arranged within the housing to extend between the end plates and overlie the access opening, and means releasably securing the closure panel in fixed position over the said access openmg.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

.Fig. l is a perspective view of the blower construction provided by the present invention and showing the front, top and one side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of the invention.

The :blower housing construction A provided by the present invention and illustrated throughout the drawings, is shown as including generally, a pair of axially spaced end plates B having axial inlet openings C, a sectional scroll sheet D related to the end plates B and estab lishing a forwardly disposed radial outlet passage E, and a rearwardly disposed radial access opening F, a closure panel G adapted to normally close the access opening G and coupling means H releasably securing the panel C in the housing.

The end plates B are substantially alike and are normally, shaped to conform to the desired cross-section of the blower proper. In the construction illustrated,

. the shape of the end plates consists of the rotor portion tangentially of the circular edges 11 of the rotor portion of the plates.

The circular edges 11 of the rotor portion 10 of the end plates B and the horizontally disposed top edge 13 of the outlet portion 12 of the plates B are provided with laterally inwardly projecting seat flanges 15 adapted to cooperatively engage and support the sectional scroll sheet D and the closure panel G in a manner that will hereinafter be described.

The front vertical edges 14 of the outlet portion 12 of the end plates B are provided with laterally outwardly projecting flanges 16, which flanges serve to mount the housing in the construction to which it is related.

The axially disposed inlet opening C and the end plates B are offset from the center of the circular rotor portion 10 thereof so as to be in axial alignment with the rotor R which is engaged in the housing. The openings C are of a size slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotor R and are shown provided with inwardly turned peripheral flanges 17, which flanges serve to direct the air enteringthe housing into the interior of the rotor R.

The sectional scroll sheet D is shown as including an upper section 20 and a lower section 21.

The upper section 20 of the scroll sheet D is a substantially rectangular sheet having straight parallel side edges 22 and straight front and rear edges 23 and 24. The front edges 23 and 24 of the section of the scroll sheet D are provided with outwardly turned flanges 23 and 24. The flange 23' is adapted to cooperate with the flanges 16 on the end plates B and to facilitate mounting the construction, while the flange 24 at the rear edge of the said section is adapted to cooperate with the closure panel G and establish a part of the coupling means H as will hereinafter be described.

The upper section 20 of the scroll sheet D is arranged between the end plates B with its front edge 23 and flange 23' flush with the front edges 14 and flanges 16 of the outlet portions 12 of the end plates and with its side edges 22 extending along and engaging the inner surfaces of the seat flanges 15 around the upper rear quarter of the rotor portion 10 and along the top edges 13 of the outlet portion 11 of the end plates.

The lower section 21 of the scroll sheet D is a substantially rectangular sheet of material having straight, parallel side edges 2-5 and straight parallel front and rear edges 26 and 27. The section 21 is shown as having an upwardly curved front portion 28 which establishes the front wall of the housing and a rearwardly curved lower portion 29 which establishes the bottom wall of the housing. The front portion 28 of the housing section 21 is formed with a radially inwardly projecting part3t), which occurs in close proximity with the, rotor R engaged in; the housing and in accordance with the conventional blower design.

The front and rear edges 26 and 27 of the section 21 of the scroll sheet, like the top section 20, are provided with flanges 26' and 27. The flange 26' at the front edge of the section 21 occurs flush with the front edge 14 of the end plates and serves as a mounting flange, while the flange 27' at the rear edge of the section 21 projects outwardly and serves, as a stiffening or reinforcing, member.

The lower section 21 of the scroll sheet D is arranged between the end plates B with its front portion 28 between the outlet portions 12 of the plates and with the side edges of the lower portion 29 thereof extending around and engaging the inner surface of the, seat flanges 15. The lower portion 29 of the lower section extends around the forward lower quarter of the rotor portions of the end plates.

The upper and lower sections 20 and 21 of the scroll sheet D are secured to the seat flanges 1S and end plates B by suitable screw fasteners 30. It is to be understood that, in practice, the scroll sheet and the end plates could be fixed together as by welding or other conventional means Without effecting the novelty of the present invention.

With the relationship of parts set forth above, it will be apparent that the forward portions of the upper and lower sections 20 and 21 of the scroll sheet D and the discharge portions 12 of the end plates B cooperate to establish the outlet passage E of the housing. It will also be apparent that the rear edges 24. and 27 of the upper and lower sections 20 and 21 of the scroll sheet D terminate in spaced relationship to each other at or about the lower rear quarter of the rotor portionof the end plates E and cooperate with the end plates to define the access opening F.

The discharge or outlet passage E in the case A is, in accordance with normal blower construction, of limited vertical extent and is such that it could not pass the rotor R.

The access opening F is of greater vertical and lateral extent than the rotor R and is adapted to freely pass or receive the rotor when it is desired to shift the rotor into and out of engagement in the housing A.

The closure panel G is an elongate rectangular sheet having straight parallel side edges 35 adapted to normally engage and seat on the inner surfaces of the seat flanges on the end plates B, between the upper and lower sections and 21 of the scroll sheet D, and straight parallel top and bottom edges 36 and 37 adapted to be related or engaged with the edges 24 and 27"of the upper and lower sections 20 and 21 of the scroll sheet D.

The bottom edge portion 37 of the closure panel overlies and engages the inner surface of the bottom section 21 of the scroll sheet along the rear edge portion 27 thereof, while the upper or top edge 36 of the panel is provided with an outwardly turned flange 38 which flange projects. radially outwardly from between the end plates of the housing and establishes flat butted engagement with the outwardly turned flange 24 on the rear edge of the top section 20 of the scroll sheet D.

The mounting means H releasably securing the closure panel G in the housing A is shown as including, registering openings 40 in the butting flanges 38 and 24? of the closure panel G and the upper section 20 of the scroll sheet D, screw fasteners 41 engaged through the openings and releasably mounting the said flanges in tight clamped engagement with each other, and an elongate rearwardly projecting, resilient cleat fixed to the inner surface of the lower section 21 of the scroll sheet D adjacent the rear edge 27 thereof and extending axially of the housing and adapted to receive and engage the inner surface of the closure panel along the lower edge portion thereof and to yieldingly hold the said lower edge portion of the panel in clamped engagement with the rear edge portion of the scroll sheet.

In the case illustrated, the rotor R is shown supported in the housing A by a drive shaft 45, which drive shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of axially spaced bearings 46 carried by supporting bars 47 fixed tothe end plates B to extend across the inlet opening C, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The rotor R is a typical squirrel cage top rotor having a plurality of elongate circumferentially spaced and axially disposed blades 48, a central disc-shaped hub member 49 carrying the blades and a central apertured boss 5% on the hub member and slidably engaged on the shaft. A suitable set screw 51 is provided in the boss 50 to set and lock the hub member to the shaft.

When it is desired to remove the rotor R from the housing it is a simple matter to pull the shaft 45 from engagement in the boss 50, after loosening the set screw 51, remove the fastener from engagement in the opening in the flanges 24. and 38 and shifting the closure panel circumferentially in the housing from the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings where it overlies the access opening F, to a position such as is indicated in solid lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings where it leaves the access opening unobstructed and so that the rotor R can be shifted therethrough in the direction indicated by lines X in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that when the housing is assembled, the closure panel is engaged over the access opening and the rotor R is in operation, the pressure of the air Within the housing urges the closure panel outwardly and into snug, substantial sealing engagement with the lower section 21 of the scroll sheet and the seat flanges 15v at the sides of the openings.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated another form or carrying out the present invention, where the sections of the scroll sheet D and the closure panel G are provided with radially inwardly projecting flanges 15 along their end edges, which flanges overlie and occur adjacent the outer surfaces of the end plates B, about the peripheral edge portions of the plates. The flanges 15' on the sections of the scroll sheet and the edge portions of the plates B are provided with circumferentially spaced registering openings through which screw fasteners 30, or the like, are engaged, to secure the said sections and end plates together. In this second form of the invention, there is no flange on the end plates and upon which the closure panel is engaged and supported, however, the flanges 15' on the closure panel impart suflicient stiifness and rigidity to the panel to prevent it from bowing out and becoming displaced and, as a result of the air pressure within the construction acting against it.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reverse to myself any variations or modifications that may occur to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A blower of the character referred to including a housing comprising, a pair of substantially circular axially spaced end plates with axial inlet openings, a sectional scroll sheet having upper and lower sections secured to the end plates to extend therebetween and spaced. ciroumferentially thereof, the opposing edges of the sections of the scroll sheet and the edges of the end plates cooperating to establish a radially disposed outlet opening and a radially disposed access opening, a rotor en-. gageable inthe housing through the access opening, a closure panel within the housing, and coupling means releasably securing the closure panel in the housing to extend between the sections of the scroll sheet to normally overlie and close the access opening, said coupling means including a cleat on one of said sections of the scroll sheet and engageable with one edge of the panel, opposed, radially outwardly projecting coupling flanges on the other section of the scroll sheet and the opposite edge of the panel, and screw fasteners releasably securing the coupling flanges together.

2. A blower housing of the character referred to including, a pair of substantially circular axially spaced end plates with axial inlet openings, and axially inwardly projecting peripheral seat flanges, a sectional scroll sheet having upper and lower sections secured to the inner surfaces of the seat flanges on the end plates to extend therebetween and spaced circumferentially thereof to establish a radially disposed outlet opening and a radially disposed access opening, a rotor engageable in the housing through the access opening, a closure panel within the housing, and releasable coupling means releasably securing the closure panel in the housing to extend between the inner surface of the sections of the scroll sheet and the seat flanges on the end plates to normally overlie and close the access opening, said coupling means including an elongate resilient cleat fixed to the inside surface of one of the sections of the scroll sheet and adapted to engage and hold one edge of the panel in clamped engagement in the said section, opposed radially outwardly projecting coupling flanges on the opposite edge of the panel and on the other section of the scroll sheet and screw fasteners releasably securing the coupling flanges together.

3. A blower housing of the character referred to including, a pair of substantially circular axially spaced end plates with axial inlet openings, a sectional scroll sheet having elongate upper and lower sections extending between the end plates and spaced circumferentially thereof to establish a radially disposed access opening and a radially disposed outlet opening, the opposing ends of the sections that establish the access opening having radially outwardly projecting flanges, a rotor engageable in the housing through the access opening, and an elongate closure panel fixed to and extending between the sections of the scroll sheet to normally overlie and close the access opening and having radially outwardly projecting flanges at its ends to oppose the outwardly projecting flanges on the sections of the scroll sheet, the sections of the scroll sheet and the closure panel having radially inwardly projecting flanges along their sides to occur adjacent the outer sides of the end plates, and screw fastening means securing the outwardly projecting flanges on the closure panel and the scroll sheet sections together and the inwardly projecting flanges on the scroll sheet sections on the closure panel to the end plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 174,813 Hargreaves Mar. 14, 1876 1,074,606 Christoph Oct. 7, 1913 1,470,766 Schaifer Oct. 16, 1923 1,587,876 Tolliver June 8, 1926 1,646,319 Scott Oct. 18, 1927 1,850,545 Gredell Mar. 22, 1932 1,873,386 Goldthwaite Aug. 23, 1932 1,946,162 Hess Feb. 6, 1934 2,564,930 Slavicek Aug. 21, 1951 2,649,242 Payne Aug. 18, 1953 2,654,529 Smith Oct. 6, 1953 2,815,900 Smith Dec. 10, 1957 2,864,526 Buss Dec. 16, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,885 Great Britain of 1892 291,007 Great Britain 1 Aug. 2, 1928 747,636 France Apr. 4, 1933 

